NHTSA Complaint #10273222 — 2005 FORD ESCAPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING LOUD, HORRIBLE NOISES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT SOUNDED AS IF THE ENGINE WOULD FALL APART. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE CONNECTION ROD SHATTERED IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS CONVINCED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WELL MAINTAINED; THEREFORE, THEY DID NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED BY HER HUSBAND AND REPLACED WITH A NEW ENGINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000. UPDATED 6/22/09 *CN THE ENGINE FAILED. UPDATED 06/25/09.*JB